Hi there of us, and welcome again to Fallacious Each Time. As we speak I assumed we might revisit Blue Reflection Ray, after a primary episode that gave us a plethora of improbable innovations and a powerful array of recent characters. Happily, each the present’s world-building and character beats have confirmed acquainted sufficient thus far to make it straightforward to get into; we’ve got our core distinction of the brooding Ruka and energetic Hiori, we’ve got a second layer of magical woman chaos seemingly tied to those gemstone rings, and we’ve got some ambiguous antagonists with an identical curiosity in these so-called magical ladies, seemingly intent on draining their vitality earlier than they will ‘bloom’ into their true powers.
Along with all that comparatively typical world-building, we even have to resolve some mysteries concerning the earlier technology of magical ladies, and what their destiny means for our present heroines. It appears clear that Hiori’s sister was a Reflector up to now, and her absence nonetheless hangs closely over Hiori. Moreover, the ultimate moments of the primary episode additionally appeared to suggest an apparent developmental path for Ruka: studying from Hiori’s courageous instance and turning into a Reflector sturdy sufficient to guard her in flip, thus fulfilling the function of emotional pillar that her sister had. used to offer. Now that we have made our free predictions, let’s examine what’s really in retailer!
Episode 2
“I all the time felt snug after I was alone. Interacting with others is simply difficult.” We open with Ruka praising her lonely perspective. The cool blue roof and common subdued shade of this coated walkway mirror her emotions, whereas additionally offering a distinction within the type of the brightly sunlit backyard subsequent to her, which she instantly associates with Hiori’s willingness to achieve out to others.
The OP emphasizes each floral imagery and reflections, as Hiori lands on a lake whose floor displays her among the many water lilies
Ooh, some good choreography for these OP motion scenes – low character counts and dramatic jumps in pose, actually emphasizing the angular motion of their limbs and clothes as they spar with their opponents
It looks as if our core crew can be Ruka, Hiori, and that woman with the moped, whereas the woman our leaders tried to avoid wasting is introduced extra as a damsel in misery, sinking into reflection as her flower rises.
“Individuals who use these rings to remodel their emotions into energy. That is a Reflector.” Linking fight energy to your emotional state is an especially helpful trick, guaranteeing that the circulate of your story’s battles naturally displays the emotional arcs of your characters. It is such a pure parallel that many tales do not even trouble to mechanically formalize it this manner; you’ll be able to simply as simply clarify such a connection as characters combating extra successfully as a result of they’re not preoccupied with remorse or worry of failure
‘Can each feeling turn into our power?’ “I am fairly certain, sure.” So do their opponents use destructive feelings as power? It looks as if a pure extension of this conceit, and one that will simply lend itself to thrilling visible payoffs as they persuade enemies to change sides
“AASA is the establishment that conducts analysis into these rings”
‘Our emotions, or elements of them, are referred to as ‘fragments’. And there’s something happening with that.”
“Reflectors can shield Fragments… our emotions, but additionally these of others.” I want this exposition dump was higher built-in into the continuing drama, however I suppose it is a pure reflection of the bounce to anime from recreation design, with mechanical frameworks like this being extra of a pure assumption
The title of our third protagonist is Momo Tanabe
Ruka and Hiori’s dwelling outfits mirror their personalities. Ruka nonetheless wears the formal blue of their college uniform and would not actually possess a lot willpower outdoors of her assigned duties (even throughout their dialog with Momo, she regarded to Hiori for instructions). Hiori, alternatively, in fact wears a pink shirt and shorts, a sporty, extra androgynous look that presents her as prepared for journey.
Hiori says she’s going to turn into a Reflector, to which Ruka responds with “take into consideration this rationally,” which from her perspective presumably means “pay extra consideration to your fears.”
“As a result of my sister was like that.” In fact, Hiori additionally merely follows another person’s instance and tries to dwell as much as her sister’s reminiscence
When Hiori takes her hand, they appear to reconnect by means of their reminiscences
Oh my god Ruka. When some classmates ask her what is going on on with Hiori, she says she would not know and easily will get as much as go away the room, hiding on the roof. The woman actually prefers her loneliness
At dwelling, Momo says a prayer to her grandmother and tells her shrine, “This time I’ll work even tougher.” So Momo additionally tries to current power in reminiscence of an absent cherished one
“I have been in search of my sister ever since, however I have never been capable of finding her.” So Hiori’s sister isn’t recognized to be useless, however presumably disappeared throughout that big opening explosion
As Hiori meets Momo, Ruka is awkwardly stalked by Miyako, the woman Hiori saved
“I do know you observed me, however you continue to ignore me. You actually do not care about others, do you?” Oh boy, Miyako sounds splendidly terrible. Instantly taking Ruka’s aloofness as an insult is a improbable begin to a multitude of a relationship
Miyako needs details about what occurred the day before today as a result of her reminiscences are obscure. Curiously, evidently she and Hiori had been related by their shared need for somebody who may assist them: Hiori’s continued sense of displacement in the direction of her sister apparently resonated with Miyako’s extra instant issues.
Nice yakuza squat from Momo as she tells Hiori she has to go to high school
Elsewhere, two extra of our supposedly evil magical ladies lounge in a four-poster mattress whereas an organ performs ominous tunes, identical to you.
Apparently these are the opposite two’s superiors, who quickly arrive and apologize for his or her failure. These ladies are additionally Reflectors, however their “emotions are completely different. We perceive the sorrows of the world excess of these of others.” As anticipated, they’re basically destructive reflections of our predominant solid
Hiori and Ruka’s paths to accepting their fates are all very acceptable – Hiori instantly heads off to fulfill Momo and be taught extra, whereas Ruka wanders alone and pensive all day, slowly gathering her ideas.
‘That is my uncle’s condo. My mom went to purchase some mild bulbs and by no means got here again.” Rattling, so Hiori’s complete life is outlined by the folks closest to her disappearing with no phrase
‘It has been 5 years and nobody has seen her. That is why we purchased a couple of new ones ourselves.” A bitter joke, considerably uncommon for Hiori, that displays the lingering ache of her mom’s betrayal
“I do not assume the gasoline is on.” “It is canned meals.” “My sister was actually good at spicing it up.” Extra slicing particulars about Hiori’s life: They basically dwell as cheaply as doable, with out even the reassurance that their utilities will stay energetic. After which that final remark, which displays how her sister made this impoverished life appear a lot grander and served as Hiori’s protector when their mom left
“Why do you reside within the dorm?” “Oh, my sister needed me to expertise completely different worlds.” Even now, her sister serves as a suggestion
‘I can not be such as you both. That woman within the courtyard – I solely observed her due to you.’ Hiori can admire Ruka’s strengths a lot better than Ruka himself, as proven by Ruka’s drawings from the primary episode.
It is also clear why Hiori would revere Ruka’s capacity to note disturbances in others; Hiori might be nonetheless preoccupied with what she missed concerning her mom and sister, what clues she ignored that might have saved her family members shut.
“Her psychological state ought to nonetheless be unstable. As a result of it isn’t that straightforward to flee from the worst surroundings.” The antagonistic Reflectors appear to be united by their destructive feelings relatively than their hopes
Upon returning dwelling, Miyako discovers that her mom has thrown away the household photograph body she had made to make room for extra of her brother’s trophies. Miyako nonetheless has an sad dwelling life
And so the Reflectors come collectively, drawn by Miyako’s destructive feelings
And completed
And so our heroes arrive at their first actual battle, with Miyako’s wavering coronary heart at stake! Aside from that, what I appreciated most about this episode was the sleek articulation of Hiori’s circumstances. Regardless of her cheerful affection, the lingering weight of her mom and sister’s absence was made clear by a wide range of incidental particulars. Her pointed quip about her mom’s disappearance, her indifference to her uncle’s dwelling scenario, and her appreciation of Ruka’s skills all pointed to the way in which her household’s disappearance continues to form her worldview, making it straightforward to see why Ruka would possibly is simply as necessary to Hiori as Hiori. to Ruka. And given the awkward anti-chemistry that Ruka and Miyako share, I might prefer to see this complete group come collectively and attempt to work collectively in a roundabout way. On to episode three!
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